Yarn carrier control mechanism for straight knitting machines



mliurw 2, 113 5P. SCHMIIDT EJ943334 YARN OARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1934- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y B && Q h. w R wm S m: 3 w n o g Q mm M ww t T l o 0 =2 Hm w 0 N Q W i w o x \w x m m i i I I g 7 II N m hLL L KWE Z Mi- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a N Q u a 6 m III 1 Jame 2, TQM. P. SCHMEDT I YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1934 P. SCHMIDT June 2 1936.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, 1954 a) R j E WWW E z N N 5% j M a l 5 mm M 1 m PE .5 5 9 u. w m O WW a Mx \0 W June2, 1936. H DT 2,043,214

YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

June 2, 1936. p 2,043,214

YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1934 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 a 1 INVENTOR.

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Patented June. 2, 1936 YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Paul Schmidt, Wyomissing, Pa.., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, ha, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 26, 1934, Serial No. 722,426

20 Claims.

This invention relates to yarn carrier control mechanism for straight or full fashioned knitting machines, and particularly to those equipped with shock absorbers adapted to reduce the force of impact occurring between the longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier rods of the machine and the travel stops carried by the narrowing nuts at the opposite ends respectively of the machine.

Reciprocation of the carrier rods, between the travel stops, is effected through the medium of a friction box which is rigidly connected to one or more of the carrier rods; The friction box is slidably mounted on, and frictionally grips, a longitudinally reciprocable drive rod. The drive rod receives uniform and invariable axial reciprocation, to an extent greater than the greatest possible movement of the carrier rods between the travel stops with the narrowing nuts separated to their fullest extent, by what is known as the Coulier motion of the machine. The excess movement of the drive rod, over and above the immediate requirement of the carrier rods, is taken up by relative sliding motion being effected between the friction box and the drive rod, after the carrier rods, which are operatively connected to the friction box, engage the travel stops at the end of the machine toward which the friction box is moving.

The force of the impact between the carrier rods and the travel stops is adapted to be reduced to substantially a minimum by the friction box engaging speed-reducing abutments respective? ly located adjacent to the oppositeends of the path of travel of the carrier rods, one of which, at the time of such engagement, is traveling in the same direction and at substantially the same speed as, or slightly less than, that of the friction box, whereby practically no impact between the friction box and the abutment is effected.

After engagement of the friction box with the speed-reducing abutment, the speed of travel of the abutment is progressively lessened, between the time of said engagement and the time of engagement of the carrier rods with the travel stops at the end of the machine toward which the rods are traveling.

As a result of such progressive lessening of the speed of the abutment, the speed of the friction box, and consequently the speed of the carrier rods attached thereto, is progressively lessened and the force of impact between the carrier rods and travel stops is thereby substantially reduced.

After the carrier rods have engaged the travel stops at the end of the machine toward which the friction box and drive rod are moving, the drive rod continues to move through the arrested friction box for the remainder of that particular stroke of its reciprocatory movement.

Sudden reversal of the friction box drive rod, in beginning the next or reverse stroke of its reciprocatory movement, causes a relative sliding movement between the drive rod and the friction box before and until the inertia of the friction box and that of the carrier rods connected to the friction box is overcome, after which the friction box and the carrier rods move as a unit with, and at the same speed as, the drive rod.

In order to make the shock absorber fully effective, the friction box must arrive at a definite point in its travel, i. e. the point at which the friction box initially engages the abutment of the shock absorber, at the exact moment at which the shock absorber is traveling at substantially the same speed, and in the same direction, as the drive rod. Due to the fact that the extent of slippage occurring between the drive rod and the friction box, before the inertia of the friction box and carrier rods is overcome, varies at different times, it has been practically impossible at each and every stroke of reciprocation of said friction box to coordinate the movement of the shock absorber abutment with the movement of the friction box for most effectively performing its function.

One object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the movement of the friction box with and by the drive rod will be uniform and regular at the beginning of and throughout each and every stroke of reciprocation of the drive rod, whereby the friction box, as it nears the end of each stroke of reciprocation, will make contact with the abutment of the shock absorber at the proper time to receive full benefit of the slowing up efiect provided by the progressively decreasing travel of the shock absorber abutment before the carrier rods connected to the friction box make contact with the travel stops.

With this and other objects in view, which will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction, mechanisms and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinally contracted plan view of sufficient of a straight, or fiat, knitting machine of the type above noted to illustrate the operation of the mechanism of the present invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is rear elevation of the mechanism at one end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 3--3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, showing the coordinating mechanism of the present invention in detail;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the coordinating mechanism as taken on theline3l,Fig. 3:,

P18. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 8-3, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 1-], Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing different positions of certain of the elements of the coordinating mechanism illustrated therein;

Fig.9 is a longitudinal sectional elevation similar to Fig. 5, and taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line Iii-i8, Fig. 3 showing certain portions of the coordinating mechanism on an enlarged scale;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views similar to Fig. 10 showing various positions of the elements of the coordinating mechanism illustrated therein;

Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a perspective and side elevation of a detail of the invention; and

Figs. 15 to 18 inclusive diagrammatically illus- Itrate the operation of the mechanism of the present invention in coordination with the mechanism of the machine.

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose various parts of a Reading full-fashioned stocking machine embodying the mechanism and elements of my invention. For the sake of clearness I have illustrated only those parts of the various mechanisms necessary for an understanding of the invention; the various other parts and mechanisms and their manner of operation are well known in the art, and are shown and described in detail in the Reading" Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogue (copyri ht 1929) published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises end frames I and 2 and center frames 3, 3 which are rigidly connected by a longitudinal front beam I, a longitudinal back beam 8 and a longitudinal center bed 8.

-Blidably mounted in guideways 'l, I which are supported by brackets 8 is a series of longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier rods It. The brackets 8, 8 in turn, are secured to the center beam 8.

Slidably mounted in bearings ii, supported by brackets II which are secured to the center frames 3, is the friction box drive rod i3. Mounted on and frictionallygripping the drive rod l3 are the friction boxes II and lia shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

The friction boxes I! and iBa are provided with transversely slidable coupling bars i8 and lid which are adapted to engage the dogs I! on one, each or any of the carrier rods ll, whereby said carrier rod or rods may be selectively and rigidly connected to the friction boxes I l and lid. It will be observed that the friction box lia (see Fig. 2), a number of which are positioned in various sections of the knitting machine, and oper ate in well known manner, is of the usual construction and forms no part of the present invention; whereas, the friction box I 8 (see Fig. l) located near the middle of the machine and operating in manner hereinafter described more in detail, is so constructed as to be adapted to cooperate with shock absorber mechanism of the type set forth in Meyer U. 8. Patent No. 1,750,017.

Secured to the drive rod i3, against all relative movement with respect thereto, is a cross head II. The cross head i8 is carried by a base I. whi h in turn is secured to the Coulier slide box 28. The slide box 28 is connected by a link 2i to the outer free end of the long rocker arm 22 oi the Coulier motion, the opposite end of said rocker arm being pivoted at 23 to a bracket 24 which is rigidly secured to the back beam 5.

Pivotally connected at 25 to a bracket 28, which is secured to the back beam 5, is the short rocker arm 21 of the Coulier motion, the free end of which is connected by the pitman 28 to the long rocker arm 23, intermediate the ends thereof, in a manner illustrated in the Reading' catalog previously referred to.

Rotatably mounted on the pitman 28 is the usual pair of relatively spaced rollers 29, 29 which operate, in diametrically opposed relation to each other, against the peripheral edge of the Coulier cam 38. The Coulier cam 30, as usual, is driven' from the main shaft of the machine (not shown), whereby for each course of stitches produced by the needles of the machine, the drive rod i3 is moved longitudinally in one direction to move the selected carrier rod or rods iii in a corresponding direction for laying a thread, or threads respectively, controlled thereby to the needles of the machine for forming the said course of stitches; and whereby, for the formation of the next course of stitches, the drive rod i3 and the carrier rod or rods it are moved in an opposite direction to complete one cycle of reciprocation of the drive rod i3, which provides two needletraversing movements of the carrier rods It.

At each end of the machine is provided a narrowing screw 3i on which is mounted a narrowing nut 33. On each narrowing nut is a series of travel stops 33, one for each of the carrier rods i3. During shaping of the fabric, as produced, for example, by transferring stitches from some to others of the needles of the machine, the screws 3i at the opposite ends of the machine are rotated to move the nuts 32 toward each other or away from each other, as the case may be,

whereby the travel storm 33 are similarly moved to decrease or increase the extent of the longitudinal needle-traversing movement of the carrier rods i0 accordingly.

As above noted, the reciprocation of the drive rod i3 is uniform while the reciprocation of the carrier rods it varies in accordance with the relative positions of the travel stops 33 at the opposite ends of the machine, and, in order to provide for such variations in the reciprocations of the carrier rods in, the extent of reciprocation of the drive rod i3 exceeds the greatest possible extent of reciprocation of the carrier rods l0 and the excess movement of the drive rod i3 is taken up by the drive rod i3 sliding through, and relative to, the friction box i5 after the friction box has been brought to rest by reason of the carrier rods connected thereto having engaged the travel stops 33 at that end of the machine toward which the drive rod i3 is moving at the time.

Pivotally mounted on a stud 33 on each of the narrowing nuts 32, is a bell-crank lever 35. To the outer end of one arm 36 of each of said bellcranks 38 is pivotally connected, at 31, one end of a rod 38. The rods 38, 38 extend in opposite directions to each other, toward the middle of the length of the machine respectively, and substantially parallel, and adjacent to the path of movement of the drive rod i3 and the friction box I! thereon, the inner ends of said rods 38, 38 being mounted for axial sliding movement in suitable bearings (not shown) carried by the center frames or other rigid portions of the mal chine. The rods 38, 38 are in no wise connected one to the other, and are adapted for independent axial movement relative to each other.

On each of the rods 38 is rigidly secured an abutment 40 which is adapted to be engaged by a tongue 39. The tongue 39 may be either pivoted to, or slidably mounted on the friction box ii for movement in a, plane transversely to the axis of said friction box, whereby the tongue 39 may be moved into or out of .line with the abutments 40, 48 on the shock absorber rods 38, 38 respectively.

Normally the tongue 39 projects laterally from one side of the friction box l5 for engagement with the abutments 40, 40 alternately, near the opposite ends respectively of the strokes of reciprocation of the friction box l5.

The second arm 41 of each bell-crank 35 is provided with an adjustable stop 42. The stop 42 in each instance is adapted to rest on a shelf plate 43 which is carried by and extends laterally from and parallel to the center bed 8. The stops 42, 42 are normally maintained in engagement with the positioning shelves 43, 43, at the opposite ends respectively of the machine, by springs 44 each having one end attached to a collar 45 which is secured to the rod 38 which is operatively connected to the particular bell-crank 35. The opposite end of the spring 44 is connected to an arm 46 secured to and projecting from the narrowing nut 32 on which the bell-crank 35 is pivotally mounted.

The arm 4| of the bell-crank 35, in each instance, is provided with a roller 41 which under predetermined conditions is adapted to enter one end 48 of a cam groove 49. The cam groove 49 is formed in a cam block 50 which is secured to an extension 51 of the slur cock bar 52 of the machine. The slur cock bar 52, as usual, is slidably mounted for longitudinal reciprocation concurrently with the friction box drive rod 13, said slur cock bar being rigidly connected to the Coulier slide box 20 by which the drive rod 13 3 the center bed 6 through brackets 54 which are secured to the bed 6. The guide bars 53 are rigidly secured to the brackets 54 by bolts 55. The positioning shelves 43 are also supported by the brackets 54, to which said shelves are rigidly connected by bolts 56.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cam groove 49 in each cam block 50 is provided with a peak 51 which is disposed at a relatively higher elevation than the substantially common plane of the opposite ends 49 and 58 respectively of said cam groove, whereby, as the cam blocks 58 are reciprocated relative to the rollers 41, the rollers 41, riding in the cam grooves 49, rock the bell-crank levers 35 and thereby effect reciprocation of the shock absorber rods 38, 38, respectively.

Operation of the shock absorber at either or both ends of the machine will be clearly understood by referring to Figs. 1, 15, 17 and 18. As shown in Fig. 15, the drive rod l3, the friction box 15, and the carrier rod l0, connected to said friction box have previously been moved toward the left. as viewed in said figure, until the end I b of the carrier rod in has engaged the travel stop 33 at the left end as viewed from the back of the machine.

During such movement the slur cock bar 52 has been similarly moved and as a result thereof the cam block 58 at the right end of the ma-' chine has moved into the position relative to v the cam roller 41, of the bell-crank 35 at the right end of the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 15.

Continued rotation of the Coulier cam 38in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, by which the drive rod 13 and slur cock bar 52 previously have been moved toward the left, causes a reverse movement of the drive rod l3 and slur cock bar 52, in the direction of the arrow :1 (Fig. 15).

Movement of the drive rod l3 in the direction of the arrow a will carry the carrier rod ill in a like direction, the slur cock bar 52 also moving in the direction of said arrow. Before the tongue 39 in the friction box l engages the abutment 49 on the shock absorber rod 38 at the right side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 15, the cam block 50 at said right side will have moved to such an extent that the cam roller 41 thereon has arrived at the mouth 58 of the cam groove 49, as illustrated in Fig. 16, and advanced up the incline of the cam path toward the peak 51 thereof, as shown in Fig. 17, whereby the cam groove 49 has rocked the bell-crank lever 35 in a direction to move the abutment 40 toward the approaching tongue 39.

As the roller 41 arrives at the peak 51 of the cam groove 49 and the movement of the cam block 58 in the direction of the arrow a continues (see Fig. 1'7) the bell-crank lever 35 at said right side of the machine begins to rock in an opposite direction carrying the right abut- The drive rod i3 and slur cock bar 53 con-- tinue to move in the direction of the arrow a,

but, due to the shape of the cam groove 39 between the peak 51 and the low portion 43 of said cam groove, the travel of the rod 33 and the abutment 43 is progressively lessened.

The right end we of the carrier rod it, at such time, is closely approaching the travel stop 33 at the right end of the machine and due to the slowing up of the motion of the carrier rod it and the friction box 15, as the result of the engagement of the tongue 39 with the right abutment 43, the speed of the carrier rod ill has been so reduced that the end'lfla thereof engages the right travel stop 33 without any perceptible impact.

The cam roller 410i the right bell-crank 3? at the same time or immediately preceding 01 immediately following the contact with the end Illa of the carrier rod ill with the right travel stop 33, depending upon the position of the right narrowing nut 32 with respect to the extreme limit of reciprocation of the rod 13, rides out of the mouth 48 of the cam groove 49, as clearly illustrated in Fig.'18.

The cam block 50, by movement of the slur cock bar 52 in the direction of the arrow a through Figs. 15, 16 and 17 moves from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 18 preparatory to movement of the drive rod 1 3 and slur cock bar 52 to the left, in the direction of the arrow b, as illustrated in Fig. 18.

When the drive rod I3 and friction box 15 thereon move in the direction of the arrow b, Fig. 18, the carrier rod ID will likewise be moved in the direction of the arrow b, to complete one cycle of reciprocation together with the drive rod I3 and slur cock bar 52, whereby the thread controlled by the carrier rod ID will be laid to the needles of the machine for the formation of a second course of stitches.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious thatthe tongue 39 on the friction box l5 must engage the abutment 40 at a critical point in the relative movement between the cam block 58 and the cam roller 41 of the shock absorber at the end of the machine toward which the friction box I5 is moving. It will also be obvious that variation in the time of pick up of the friction box IE by the driving rod l3 will materially affect the time of engagement of the tongue 89 with the abutment 48.

The present invention particularly concerns means by which the pick up of the friction box IE by the drive rod l3 will be constant and regular and for this purpose certain of the carrier rods Ill, at points respectively spaced inwardly from the opposite ends Illa and "lb thereof, are provided with shoulders 60, 60. These shoulders are each adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 6| formed on a broad faced latch 62 which is pivot ally mounted on an axis 63 transverse to the rods l8 between a pair of lugs 68, 64 formed on a housing 85. The housings 65' are secured to the narrowing nuts 32, 32 respectively by bolts 66 (see Fig. 3).

As there is a shock absorber associated with each of the narrowing nuts 32, there is likewise a controlling latch 62 and associated elements at each end of the machine.

The latch 62in each instance is provided with an arm 61 on the outer end of which is rotatably mounted a roller 68. The roller 68 is adapted to ride on a cam surface 68 formed on a slide 10 (see Figs. 13 and 14) which is mounted in a groove ll formed on the upper surface of the housing 65 and extends transversely of the carrier rods I0. The carrier rods Ill extend through an opening 12 formed in each of the housings 66.

The roller 68 of the latch 62 in each instance is held in contact with a cam surface 69 formed on the slide cam I0, by means of a spring 13 having one end attached to a post 14 carried by the latch 82 and its opposite end attached to a post 15 carried by the housing 65 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

One end of the slide cam 18 in each instance is pivotally connected at 16 to one end of a lever H, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at 18 to an extension 19 of the housing 86. The lever 11 is provided with a cam roller 80 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 8| formed on or carried by an extension 6| of the slur cock bar 52. The cam roller 80in each instance is maintained in engagement with the slur cock extension 5| and/or the cam 8| carried thereby by a spring 82 having one end attached to the lever I1 and its opposite end secured to a bracket or shoe 83 carried by and secured to the outer end of the bellcrank pivot stud 84 and which maintains sliding contact with the underside of the shelf 43 during movement of the narrowing nut 82 by the narrowing screw 3|. The pivot stud 34 in each instance is rigidly secured in, and extends laterally from, the narrowing nut 32 on which the bellcrank lever 35 is mounted.

The cam 8| at each end of the machine bears a definite relationship longitudinally of the slur cock bar 52 and its extensions 5|, 5| with respect to thecam block 50 at the opposite end of the machine, which will be readily understood upon referring to Fig. 15, wherein the latch 62 at the left side of the machine is shown as holding the carrier bar l during initial movement of the slur cock bar 52 and drive rod i3 during the initial portion of the movement of the drive rod and slur cock bar in the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 15), until the roller 88 on the slide cam actuating lever 11 at the left end of the machine comes into a position at the base of the incline 8 la of the cam 8| at the left side of the machine.

As the cam 8| continues to move in the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 15) the roller 80 begins to ascend the incline 8|a of said cam thereby rocking the lever 11 and sliding the cam 10 across the housing 65. As the slide cam 10 is moved longitudinally with respect to the roller 68 of the latch 62 the roller 68 moves down the incline portion 68a of the slide cam 10 from the position shown in Fig. 7 toward the position shown in Fig. 8, and the spring 13 controlling the latch 62 accordingly rocks the latch 62 to have a bodily component of movement in the direction of operative movement of the carrier rod Ill, from the position shown in Figs. 5, 15 and 10 toward the position shown in Fig. 11, which permits the carrier rod l0, under the influence of the drag created by a portion of the drive rod l3 in passing through the friction box l5, to begin to move longitudinally by reason of the shoulder 8| on the latch swinging outwardly from a plane coinciding with that of the shoulder 60 on the carrier rod l0 into a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the shoulder 60, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

As the roller 80 further ascends the incline 8|a the slide cam Ill is moved still further with respect to the cam roller 68 of the latch 62 whereby said cam roller 68 rides into the lowest depressed portion 69b of the cam surface 69 on the slide 10, which permits the latch 62 to be rocked further about its pivot whereby the carrier rod l0 gains momentum under the influence of the drag of the friction box IS on the drive rod l8.

At the moment when the roller 80 has reached the top of the incline Bio of the cam 8| and the cam roller 58 has reached the lowest depressed portion 69b of the cam 10 the point 6| a of the latch 62 disengages with a snap action from the point 68a of the shoulder 60 on the carrier rod in, as shown in Fig. 12, thereby completely releasing the then moving carrier rod ill to continue its movement away from the latch, as shown in Fig. 9, with, and at the same speed as, the drive rod l3 and friction box l thereon.

In this manner, the uncertainty of the time of pick up of the friction box by the drive rod I3 is eliminated and the inertia of the carrier rod l0 and the friction box I5 is overcome during and by the slight amount of movement permitted for the carrier rod |ll by the rocking of the latch 0 62 from the position shown in Fig. through the position in Fig. 11, to the position shown in Fig. 12 in which the carrier rod is shown as just released from the latch 62. Because the inertia of the rod l0 and friction box l5 has been overcome before the latch 62 releases the carrier rod ill, the pick up of the friction box by the drive rod I3 is effected at the same moment in each and every stroke of reciprocation of the carrier slot 49, between the peak 51 of said cam slot and the end 48 thereof. Y

For purposes of adjustment, the latch 62, in each instance, is made in two parts, the one part on which the shoulder 6| is formed being substantially U-shape' in form and provided with a pair of bosses 90, 90 through which the pivot shaft 63 of. the latch 62 extends, said bosses being provided with set screws 9|, 9| respectively by which the pivot shaft 63 is secured against movement in the bosses 90 (see Fig. 6). Between the bosses 90, 90, the portion of the latch 62 on which the arm 61 for the roller 68 is formed is provided with a hub or boss 92, and threaded into the boss 92 and engaging the pivot shaft 63 of the latch 62 is a set screw 93 by which the arm portion of the latch maybe rigidly secured to the shaft 63 in definite fixed relation to the shoulder portion of the latch 62.

' The post I4, which affords the anchorage for the one end of the spring 13, is in the form of an adjusting screw, threaded into and through a lug 94 formed on the arm portion of the latch 62 and engaging an abutmenton the shoulder portion of the latch, whereby to slacken the set screw 93 and turn the adjusting screw 14 will effect relative rotation between the two portions of the latch 62 about the common pivot 63 thereof, whereby the relation of the roller 68 on the latch to the shoulder 6| thereof may be varied.

The shoulder 60 on the carrier rod I0 is formed by one edge of a plate 95 secured to the carrier rod in any suitable manner.

The cams 8|, 8| are so arranged on the slur cock bar extensions 5|, 5| that the latch 62, at the end of the machine toward which the carrier rods happen to be moving is held in a raised position to permit the plate 95 to pass thereunder, as shown at the right side of Fig. 17, whereupon as soon as the shoulder 60 on the plate passes the shoulder 6| of the latch the cam Bl lowers the latch to the carrier rod holding position shown in Fig. 18, ready for the beginning of the reverse movement of the drive *r'od I3.

If for any reason it may be desirable to throw the latches162 out of action, the slide 10 in each instance is provided with'a notch 96 (see Figs. 13 and 14) into which may be dropped the free end of a detent 91, carried by the housing 65, when the slide 10 is moved longitudinally to an extent greater than its normal movement by the cam 8|, whereby the roller will be raised clear of the cam 8| and the latch 62 will be raised to an inoperative position such as the position shown in Fig. 9, in which case the carrier rods l0 and the plates thereon may move freely through the housing 65. 1

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a thread carrier, friction drive means for said carrier, means restraining said carrier during initial carrier-propelling movement of said drive means, means movable with and substantially at the same speed as said drive means at a predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement thereof for diminishing the speed of the carrier, and means for effecting gradual initial movement of the latter before releasing it from said restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement of said drive means for coordinating the movements of the carrier and the speeddiminishing means at the point of synchronization of said movements of the speed-reducing means and the drive means.

2. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a thread carrier, friction drive means for said carrier, means restraining said carrier during initial carrier-propelling movement of said drive means, means movable with and substantially at the same speed as said drive means at a predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement thereof for diminishing the speed of the carrier, means for eifec'ting gradual initial movement of the latter before releasing it from said restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement of said drive meansfor coordinating the movements of the carrier and the speed-diminishing means at the point of synchronization of said movements of the speed-reducing means and the drive means, and means for gradually reducing the speed of said carrier speed-diminishing means relative to the speed of said drive means.

3. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a thread carrier, friction drive means for said carrier, travel stops for said carrier, means restraining said carrier during initial carrier-propelling movement of said drive means, means movable with and substantially at the same speed as said drive means at a predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement thereof for diminishing the speed of the carrier, means for effecting gradual initial movement of the latter before releasing it from said restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement of said drive means for coordinating the movements of the carrier and the speed-diminishing means at the point of synchronization of said movements of the speed-reducing means and the drive means, and means for gradually reducing the speed of said carrier speed-diminishing means relative to the speed of said drive means as said carrier ap-' proaches one of said travel stops.

4. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a thread carrier, friction drive means for said carrier, travel stops for said carrier, relatively movable elements supporting said stops for increasing and decreasing the travel of said carrier, means on said stop supports for restraining said carrier during initial carrier-propelling movement of said drive means, means on said stop supports and movable with and substantially at the same speed as said drive means at a predetermined point in said carrier-propelling movement thereof for diminishing the speed of the carrier, means on said stop supports and operable by means operating concurrently with said drive means for effecting gradual initial movement of the carrierbefore releasing the latter from said restraining means at a relatively earlier means and the drive means, and means operating concurrently with said drive means for gradually reducing the speed of said carrier speed-diminishing means relative to the speed of said drive means as said carrier approaches one of said travel stops.

5. In a straight knitting machine. the combination of a carrier rod, a reciprocating drive rod, a friction box affording a yielding coupling between said rods, means for restraining the carrier rod and friction box during initial carrier rod propelling movement of the drive rod, an abutment in the path of movement of the carrier rod and friction box, means for moving the abutment at substantially the same speed as the drive rod at a predetermined point in the course of the carrier rod propelling movement of the drive rod, and means for effecting gradual initial movement of the carrier rod before releasing the latter from the restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined point in said movement of the drive rod for synchronizing the movement of the friction box and carrier rod with the movement of the abutment at the first said point in said movement of the drive rod.

6. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a carrier rod, a reciprocating drive rod, a friction box affording a yielding coupling between said rods, means for restraining the carrier rod and friction box during initial carrier rod propelling movement of the drive rod, an abutment in the path of movement of the carrier rod and friction box, means for moving the abutment at substantially the same speed as the drive rod at a predetermined point in the course of the carrier rod propelling movement of the drive rod, means for effecting gradual initial movement of the carrier rod before releasing the latter from the restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined point in said movement of the drive rod for synchronizing the movement of the friction box and carrier rod with the movement of the abutment at the first said point in said movement of the drive rod to effect a non-impacting coupling between the abutment, the friction box and the carrier rod, and means for slowing up the speed of the abutment friction box and carrier rod relative to the drive rod subsequent to the effecting of said coupling.

7. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a carrier rod, a reciprocating drive rod, a friction box affording a yielding coupling between said rods, a travel stop for said carrier rod, means for restraining the carrier rod and friction box during initial carrier rod propelling movement of the drive rod, an abutment in the path of movement of the carrier rod and friction box, means for moving the abutment at substantially the same speed as the drive rod at a predetermined point in the course of the carrier rod propelling movement of the drive rod, means for effecting initial movement of the carrier rod before releasing the latter from the restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined point in said movement of the drive rod for synchronizing the movement of the friction box and carrier rod with the movement of the abutment at the first said point in said movement of the drive rod to effect a non-impacting coupling between the abutment, the friction box and the carrier rod, and means for slowing up the speed of the abutment friction box and carrier rod relative to the drive rod subsequent to the eflecting of said coupling and prior to engagement of the carrier rod with said travel stop to reduce the impact between the carrier rod and the travel stop.

8. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a carrierrod element, a reciprocating drive rod, a friction box element affording a yielding coupling between said rods, relatively spaced travel stops for the carrier rod, relatively movable supports carrying said stops respectively, means on each support for restraining the carrier rod during initial carrier rod propelling movements of the drive rod, means mounted on each support for diminishing the speed of the carrier rod as it approaches the travel stops including abutments each arranged to travel with the drive rod at ore- 5 determined points respectively in the carrier rod propelling movements of the drive rod for engagement with one of said elements as the carrier rod approaches one of said travel stops, means for diminishing the speed of the engaged abutment l0 subsequent to said engagement, and means for effecting gradual initial movement of the carrier rod before releasing the latter from said restraining means at a relatively earlier predetermined pont in said propelling movement of the drive 15 ro 9. In a straight knitting machine having a longitudinally reciprocable carrier rod and friction drive means therefor, decelerating means engageable by the carrier rod at a predetermined 20 point in the travel of said rod, a latch pivoted adjacent said rod for effecting a progressively decreasing retarding action of the carrier rod during initial movement thereof by said drive means,

a cam slidable transversely of the rod and the 25 latch for actuating and finally releasing the latch from the carrier in predetermined timed relation to the engagement of the carrier with said decelerating means.

10. In a straight knitting machine having a 30 longitudinally reciprocable carrier rod and friction drive means therefor, decelerating means engageable by the carrier rod at a predetermined point in the travel of said rod, a latch pivoted adjacent said rod for effecting a progressively 35 decreasing retarding action of the carrier rod during initial movement thereof by said drive means, a cam slidable transversely of the rod and the latch for actuating and finally releasing the latch from the carrier in predetermined timed re- 40 lation to the engagement of the carrier with said decelerating means, and means operable concurrently with said drive means for actuating said slide cam.

11. In a straight knitting machine having a 45 longitudinally reciprocable carrier rod and friction drive means therefor, decelerating means angageable by the carrier rod at a predetermined point in the travel of said rod, a latch pivoted adjacent said rod for eflecting a progressively decreasing retarding action of the carrier rod during initial movement thereof by said drive means, a cam slidable transversely of the rod and the latch for actuating and finally releasing the latch from the carrier in predetermined timed 55 relation to the engagement of the carrier with said decelerating means, and cam means operable concurrently with said drive means for actuating said slide means.

12. In a straight knitting machine having a w longitudinally reciprocable carrier rod and friction drive means therefor, decelerating means engageable by the carrier rod at a predetermined point in the travel of said rod, a latch pivoted adjacent said rod for effecting a progressively de- 65 creasing retarding action of the carrier rod during initial movement thereof by said drive means,

a cam slidable transversely of the rod and the latch for actuating and finally releasing the latch from the carrier in predetermined timed relation 70 to the engagement of the carrier with said decelerating means, lever mechanism for actuating said slide cam, and cam means operable concurrently with said drive means for actuating said lever mechanism.

13. In a straight knitting machine having a longitudinally reciprocable carrier rod and friction drive means therefor, decelerating means engageable by the carrier rod at a predetermined point in the travel of said rod, a latch pivoted adjacent said rod for effecting a progressively decreasing retarding action of the carrier rod during initial movement thereof by said drive means, a cam slidable transversely of the rod and the latch for actuating and finally releasing the latch from the carrier in predetermined timed relation to the engagement of the carrier with said decelerating means, lever mechanism for actuating said slide cam, cam means for operating said creasing retarding action of the carrier rod durreciprocation of the carrier ing initial movement thereof by said drive means. a cam slidable transversely of the rod and the latch for actuating and finally releasing the latch from the carrier in predetermined timed relation to the engagement of the carrier with said decelerating means, lever mechanism for actuating said slide cam, cam means for operating said lever mechanism, cam means for operating said decelerating mechanism in timed relation to each other, and a bar longitudinally and synchronously reciprocable with said drive rod and carrying said cams in predetermined relation one to the other.

15. In a straight knitting'machine having a longitudinally reciprocable 'frictionally driven carrier rod, a restraining element for said carrier rod, a slide cam for operating-said restraining element, a lever pivoted adjacent to the carrier rod about an axis transverse to the rod and operatively connected to the slide cam, and means operable in predetermined timed relation to the rod for rocking said lever to effect gradual initial movement of the carrier rod before releasing it from the restrainingelement. I I

16. In a straight knitting machine having a longitudinally reciprocable frictlonally driven carrier rod, a restraining element for said carrier rod, a slide cam for operating said restraining element, a lever pivoted rod about an axis transverse to the rod and operatively connected to the slide cam, and a cam reciprocably parallel to'the carrier 'rodin preitial movement of the carrier rod 7 before releasing it from the restraining element. H

17. In a straight knitting machine having alongitudinally reciprocable carrier rod, n'shoulderv on said'rod, a latch pivoted adjacent said rod, a

shoulder on the'latch engaging the shoulder on the rod, a cam slidable transversely of the rod,

a cam roller carried by the latch, a spring foradiacent to the carrier rocking the latch with the roller on contact with said cam, and means for sliding the cam in pre-- determined time relation to the reciprocation of the carrier and to efiect release of the rod from the latch.

18. In a straight knitting machine having a longitudinally reciprocable carrier rod, a shoulder on said rod, a two part latch pivoted adjacent said rod, a shoulder on one part of the latch engaging the shoulder onthe rod, a cam slidable transversely of'the rod, a cam roller carried by the second part of the latch, a spring for rocking the latch with the rollerin contact with said cam, means for sliding the cam in predetermined time relation to the reciprocation of the carrier to effect release of the rod from the latch, and means'for adjusting one part of the latch about the pivot of the latch and relative to the second part of the latch to vary the angular relation of the shoulder on the one part to the roller on the second part 20 for minuteLy timing the release of the carrier rod from'the latch.

19. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a carrier rod, a drive rod, a friction box affording a driving connection between said rods, 25

a slur cock bar, means for reciprocating said drive rod and slur cock bar in synchronization, relatively spaced narrowing nuts, travel stops for the carrier rod respectively mounted on said narrowing nuts, a bracket on each narrowing nut, a latch 30 operating cams thereon for cheating gradual initial movement of the carrier rod before releasing the latches from the carrier rod in predetermined relation to the engagement of the friction box with the decelerating abutments.

20. In a straight knitting machine-the combination of a carrier rod, a drive rod, a friction box affording a driving connection between said rods, a slur cock bar, means for reciprocating said drive rod and slur cock bar in synchronization, relatively spaced narrowing nuts, travel stops for the carrier rod respectively mounted on said na'rrowing nuts, a bracket on each narrowing nut, a latch on each bracket for restraining the carrier rod during initial movement of the drive rod and rowing nut for engagement with the friction box,

cams on the slur cock bar for operating said abut- 'ments fordeceleratingthe friction box and carrier rod prior to the latter'sengagement with the travel stops, and cams on'the slur cockbar in pre- 1 determined relation to each other and to the abutment operating cams thereon for rocking said levers and thereby sliding the cams on the brackets for-releasing the latches from the carrier rod in predetermined relation tothe engagement of the friction box with the decelerating abutments.

PAUL sommrr. 

